Photo Reuters. On the night of January 3, the U.S. carried out airstrikes on the capital of Venezuela and captured President Nicolás Maduro
The first response came from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who called for an emergency meeting of the UN and the Organization of American States regarding the events in Venezuela, characterizing the actions of the U.S. as "unprecedented."
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the actions of the U.S. represent an act of armed aggression against Venezuela, which raises serious concern and condemnation.
According to Russian diplomats, the justifications for Maduro's arrest are "unfounded," and it is necessary to stop further escalation of the conflict through dialogue. "Latin America must remain a zone of peace, as proclaimed in 2014, and Venezuela must have the right to determine its own fate without external interference," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
European diplomacy also reacted to the situation: Kaja Kallas called for restraint, noting that she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Iran condemned the U.S. attack on Venezuela, stating that "the U.S. grossly violates international law and poses a threat to security both in the region and globally." Iran emphasized that Venezuela has the right to self-defense.
Representatives of the Lebanese organization "Hezbollah," the Palestinian Hamas, and the Yemeni movement "Ansar Allah" also condemned the actions.
China expressed strong condemnation of the attack, stating that it is "deeply shocked" by the actions of the U.S. Just hours before the attack, Nicolás Maduro met with a delegate from Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was present in Caracas during the airstrikes.
“We urge the U.S. to adhere to international laws and the principles of the UN Charter,” Chinese authorities emphasized.
Questions also arose in the U.S. Congress regarding President Donald Trump's actions. Republicans expressed dissatisfaction, and Senator Mike Lee from Utah noted: “What is the constitutional justification for all this, if we have not declared war on anyone, and Congress has not given consent for the use of force against a foreign state?”
The Mayor of New York and Democratic senators also condemned the U.S. operation, stating that “a unilateral strike on a sovereign state is an act of war and a violation of both federal and international law.” Senator Andy Kim reminded that earlier Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied the possibility of a change of power in Venezuela.
Latin America sharply condemned Washington's actions: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the U.S. actions "state terrorism," urging the international community to intervene. This was joined by former Bolivian President Evo Morales, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Mexican authorities, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and representatives from Uruguay.
In Turkey, the chief advisor to the president, Cemil Ertem, sharply condemned the actions of the U.S., although President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has not yet commented on the situation.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the strikes on Venezuela "could have serious consequences for the entire world."
Earlier, it was reported that a series of explosions occurred in Caracas on the night of January 3, marking the beginning of airstrikes on the Venezuelan capital.
In early September 2025, the President of the United States sent eight warships to the southern Caribbean, explaining this as a fight against drug trafficking. Nicolás Maduro characterized the actions of the U.S. as a "hostile siege" and appealed to the UN for help in protecting the territorial integrity of the country. In response, Donald Trump stated that a Venezuelan drug boat was sunk by U.S. forces in the Caribbean and ordered the cessation of all diplomatic relations with Venezuela, adding that the U.S. would continue operations against drug traffickers abroad without congressional approval.
